Returning stars give McCarthy a selection headache

CAPE TOWN - Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy is suffering from a major headache – and he expects it to get even worse as the days tick down to Saturday’s MTN8 final against SuperSport United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban (kick-off 7pm).

It is selection that is at the root of the City coach’s migraine. With Austrian midfielder Roland Putsche and right-back Thami Mkhize given the green light from the club’s medical staff, McCarthy has everybody except for the injured Aubrey Ngoma available for selection.

Putsche missed City’s last two games, but has recovered and is fit and well. Mkhize picked up a knock on his Bafana Bafana debut against Burkina Faso at the weekend, and he hobbled through the closing stages of the 2018 World Cup qualifier won 3-1 by South Africa. He, too, though, has a green light to take his place in the cup final.

“I’m having headaches just in selecting the 18 players to make the squad, let alone the 11 who have to start the game,” said McCarthy. “Some players are going to be disappointed, but that’s the nature of the game.

"I have to pick the 11 who I believe deserve to wear the jersey for the team, the club and the supporters. The players have stepped up the intensity at training this week, in a bid to make the squad, and now it’s up to me to make good, positive decisions that benefit the team.”